High Court hands down judgment in controversial chicken farming case

On Wednesday Sir Ross Cranston (sitting as a High Court Judge) handed down judgment in R (The Humane League UK) v SSEFRA [2023] EWHC 1243 (Admin).  The Humane League (supported by the RSPCA intervening) had alleged that the Secretary of State had adopted unlawful policies and practices by permitting the keeping of “fast-growing” breeds of chicken. The Claimant alleged that these policies and practices were premised on the Secretary of State’s misinterpretation of Paragraph 29 of the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007.

So called “fast-growing" breeds make up some 98% of the meat chicken market in the UK. The Claimant sought to rely on scientific evidence demonstrating that these breeds suffered from significant welfare issues due to their genetic make-up.  The SoS denied that she had any practice or policy on the keeping of specific breeds of chicken or that she had misinterpreted Paragraph 29. The Judge agreed and dismissed the claim.

The claim has been the subject of significant press attention (e.g. here, here and here).

The Secretary of State was represented by Richard Turney, Ben Fullbrook and Barney McCay.